The Dynamic Genome

A Darwinian Approach

Antonio Fontdevila

Provides a synthetic, readable account of some hotly debated evolutionary issues set in the context of our growing understanding of functional genomics

Analyses some of the most widely publicised anti-Darwinian theories, focusing them within a historical and conceptual framework, explaining why and how they exist, and providing the reader with putative solutions

Demonstrates how the emerging dynamism of the genome can continue to be linked with the fundamental process of natural selection

The Dynamic Genome

A Darwinian Approach

Antonio Fontdevila

Description

Our ever-increasing knowledge of whole genome sequences is unveiling a variety of structures and mechanisms that impinge on current evolutionary theory. The origin of species, the evolution of form, and the evolutionary impact of transposable elements are just a few of the many processes that have been revolutionized by ongoing genome studies. These novelties, among others, are examined in this book in relation to their general significance for evolution, emphasising their human relevance. The predominance of non-coding DNA in the human genome, the long-term adaptive role of so called "junk DNA" in the evolution of new functions, and the key evolutionary differences that define our humanity are just some of the controversial issues that this book examines in the context of Darwinian evolution. The author's principle intention is to show that whilst genomics is revealing new and previously unanticipated mechanisms and sources of variability that must be incorporated into evolutionary theory, there is no reason to dismiss the role of natural selection as the mechanism that sorts out these potentialities. In other words, this genome potential provides new possibilities (and also constraints) for evolution, but the realization of this potential is driven by natural selection.

The Dynamic Genome

A Darwinian Approach

Antonio Fontdevila

Table of Contents

Preface1. The Dynamic Genome: A General Introduction2. The Unity of Type: Ancient Homologies in the Genome3. The Genome is Mobile4. The Horizontal Genome5. Reconstructing Darwinism: From Darwin to the Genome Via the Modern SynthesisGlossaryReferencesIndex

The Dynamic Genome

A Darwinian Approach

Antonio Fontdevila

Author Information

Antonio Fontdevila was born in Barcelona, Spain. After studying at the University of California, Davis, he returned to Spain where he was a Professor of Genetics at the Universitat Santiago de Compostela (1973-1980) and then at the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (1980-2008), where he remains as Emeritus Professor. During this time he was Chairman of his department (1988-90), supervised 16 PhD theses, was Visiting Professor at more than 20 universities and invited speaker more than 35 times in 10 different countries. He has written 120 peer reviewed papers, edited one book, and co-authored two text books, as well as serving on several journal editorial boards, steering committees, and society councils. His research interests include the measurement of fitness and life history parameters in natural populations; ecological and evolutionary genetics of colonization; molecular evolution and population genetics of transposable elements; and the evolution of reproductive isolation.